8/10/2019 1989 006 Brutus and Cozens

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Brutus v Cozensand the meaning of ordinary words

W(ile researc(in) for t(e t(ir* e*ition of m+ boo$ Statute Law, rea* t(e article -Brutus # o/ens0

ecline an* Fall' 21993 rim LR 454 b+ . W. 6lliott7 an* woul* li$e to ma$e a brief comment.

8(e article celebrates t(e suppose* *emise of a *ictum of Lor* Rei* in Brutus v Cozens21943 A

;7 "1: -8(e meanin) of an or*inar+ wor* of t(e 6n)lis( lan)ua)e is not a r*er Act

194"?

-An+ person w(o in an+ public place . . . uses t(reatenin)7 abusi#e or insultin) wor*s or

be(a#iour wit( intent to pro#o$e a breac( of t(e peace or w(ereb+ a breac( of t(e peace is

li$el+ to be occasione*7 s(all be )uilt+ of an offence.'

As alwa+s wit( an+ enactment7 t(e tas$ of t(e ma)istrates' court was to arri#e at an* appl+ t(e le)al

meanin) of t(e entire passa)e. 8(e =ouse of Lor*s rule* t(e+ were ri)(t to accor* t(e wor*

-insultin)' its or*inar+ meanin)7 an* t(at it was not necessar+ to spell t(is out.

,n m+ submission t(e commentators ou)(t not to (a#e place* so muc( wei)(t on t(is sin)le sentence

b+ Lor* Rei*7 e#en t(ou)( it was sin)le* out for mention in t(e (ea*note. @u*)es are fon* of

encapsulatin) a principle of statutor+ interpretation in a sentence7 an* are $nown to be fre